I have found that all of the video trainings that I’ve seen on YouTube are dry and boring. Informative, yes. Fun, no. So I’ve added a wee bit of Irish to this introductory video on editing using iMovie on the iPad. Almost all of these instructions are interchangeable while editing on the iPhone.
On my final day in Vancouver this week, I took some time to visit a circus school called, Circus West. This is a very fun place. You can bounce off of just about every surface and there are helpful people there to keep you safe and to share their knowledge.
So on this day, I learned how to do my first backflip. Here’s a short video on what that looked like.
While on the flight home the next day I got speaking with the gentleman sitting next to me. We got into a discussion about how important it is for people to actually TALK to one another nowadays and he told me this,
“You know Tony, when you get a little introspective, you can see how just about everything important that we do in our lives starts with a conversation”.
No kidding! I completely agreed. Thank you Dwayne for this inspiration. I asked him for permission to use this comment and have done so in 3 presentations since then.
Keep talking to people, keep playing, and keep connecting.
Here is a look at what our adventure in Whistler looked like. Over 20 performers spent over 25 hours on the Bass Bus to get there. And when it was time, we were ready.
Part of this video includes the poetic story of how I was introduced to juggling back in 1998 in Whistler by a good friend, Jon Stromberg. I thought that it was wonderful how I now found myself performing with a professional circus using that skill that was taught to me so many years ago.
Thank you Jon. It’s had such a profound impact on my life. What a gift.
This was a mega-road trip if I’ve ever had one! Due to the the winter conditions we arrived to Whistler about 6 hours later than planned. In total, we spent 27 hours on the Bass Bus. Today turned into a crafter noon.
There are worse places to be stuck I have to admit. We had a lot of fun. Fortunately, we got a lot of work done as well. On this day there were people updating their social media campaigns, video editing, creating name tags, sewing costumes, doing makeup and everything in between.
Well here we go! This was some of what we experienced on Day 1 of our road trip from Calgary to Whistler.
We stopped in Kamloops for the night just about 8 hours behind schedule due to the winter conditions. But that didn’t stop the fun. There was dancing, performing, laughter and dining along the way. All of the over 25 performers and production crew (including the very important props / decorations / support vehicle in tow) agree that this in a once in a lifetime experience. It is such a privilege to be a part of such a professional group of passionate individuals – from all different backgrounds – brining this circus performance to life.
I believe that rest is a wonderful thing. But I also believe that when we are in heightened states and are inspired, we are capable of forgetting the fact that we are tired. On this beautiful hike on October 1st, 2015 I got to climb to the top of Fortress Mountain with a good friend. The elevation gain was a little over 1000 m and the views were stunning.
Consider the next time that you are in the midst of a passion project that you just allow yourself to Forget Your Fatigue.
This concludes the most challenging and rewarding 30 day challenge I’ve ever taken on.
Last Friday evening I completed my 29th day of meditation with the regular guided chakra meditation that I often listen to on YouTube. It did the trick to help me relax at a time when I was’t feeling particularily relaxed.
Tonight I attended my 7th yoga class in 2 weeks. To some people that may not be a lot of yoga, but for me it is. It’s been wonderful. I’ve learned from several instructors. Some of the classes that I’ve taken have been very meditative. Tonight was one of them.
The initial instructor could not be there so about 5 minutes past the hour, another instructor stepped in to lead the class. This class had a focus on opening up the hips which is an area that can be quite tight for me.
What was so great about this class was how she guided us so gracefully through the practice and allowed each of us to stretch and hold the poses in a relaxed manner. There was no pushing or real pain or major discomfort. Almost the entire class felt so good for my body, and of course for my mind.
Taking the time this past month to do 30 days of meditation has been a real gift to myself. I thought about that during my yoga practice tonight. I felt that by taking the time out of my busy day to be with my body and to stretch and breathe and relax that I was in fact giving myself a gift. A gift that I’ve long deserved and long denied myself of.
I’ve enjoyed yoga in my life on and off for more than 2 years but for some reason have only brought it into
Photo by Russell Thomas
my life on a regular basis in the past couple of weeks. I can’t help but see the correlation with all of the meditating. I’m ok with the fact that this challenge took more than 30 days to complete.
So other than having a much more consistent sense of calmness; than seeing some explosive developments in my business; than feeling healthy and more peaceful and feeling physically stronger, I believe that this challenging, “30 Days of Meditation” challenge has rewarded me with my formal introduction to yoga.
I’d say that’s a pretty good result from this 30 day challenge.
If you need more adventure in your life, go after it!
It was October 26th, 2015, and I had troubles getting out of bed. This was because of the 1150 m hike that I did up Mount Chester in Peter Laughed Park with a good friend yesterday. This hike took us to above 10,000 feet which was the first time that I’d ever been up so high without an airplane.
It was amazing.
Fuelled with lots of food water and one Red Bull, I was often surprised at my high energy levels on the way up and on the way down. The entire hike took us just under 8.5 hours round trip of the 14km journey. I believe we could have shaved an hour off the time if we chose to but we took our time at Chester Lake. It was really fun to toss rocks through the thin layer of ice to hear the rippling sound that it created.
We also ascended up the south face of Chester which it turns out was not our easiest option.
So when I awoke Monday morning, unsurprisingly getting up was not the most desirable first task on my leg’s agenda.
So I meditated.
I chose to just lie there without any guidance from anywhere or anything and to just concentrate on my breathing. It was the first time that I’d done a meditation before even leaving my bed in the morning and it was the right thing to do.
I felt more at ease with the busy day ahead and clear about my objectives for the day. When I have an experience like this, sometimes I wonder why it is that I don’t yet do this every day? At least with this challenge, it’s become a much more regular part of my life and has a better chance of gaining full integration soon.
Here’s a look at the video from the hike up Chester Mountain.
I’m almost sad that this challenge is coming to an end because I’ve seen so many positive things and experiences appear into my life since starting it. Without a doubt this has been the most difficult challenge that I’ve taken on, but also the most rewarding.
By the time I complete it next week it will have taken around 40 days to complete this 30 day challenge. But that’s ok. Meditating every day is not something that I’d expect anyone to be able to easily just POP into their lives.
Perhaps there will be a time in my future when meditation will be such a regular part of my life that it wouldn’t be any challenge at all. But I’m not quite there yet.
One bonus that I must mention tonight is how smoothly things seem to be going for me these days. It’s as if I’ve got some additional psychological assistant helping me make the right decisions in life that are leading to more free time and more of an overall feeling of well being and relaxation. Perhaps part of that is due to my recent listening to the audiobook of, “The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks.
While I was not thrilled with the first half of the book, the second half has really impressed me. He speaks about something that he calls, “The Upper Limit Problem” which is the concept that people tend to self-sabotage when things are going well in one area of their lives. Furthermore he tells us how to live in our, “Zone of Genius” which I also think is brilliant.
Most noteworthy for me are his words around the concept of time. He suggests that people who are always short on time and rushing are using time to make themselves feel like a victim. I’ve done this although don’t seem to be doing it as often as I used to.
To correct this he offers that people first stop using this victim language and secondly take responsibility for the main thing(s) that they are not being responsible about in their lives.
This set off a lightbulb in my mind and I got straight down to sorting out a particular challenge that I’ve had for some time. It came to me clearly and quickly as he said that it would. I love books that actually make me get out of my chair to do something in that moment. This is one of those books. I hope that my book on Unexpected Connections prompts similar actions for people one day.
Like many great books, I got introduced to this one by a friend of mine, Julia Zarina and I’ll forever be grateful. Take a look here at a great resource for getting the information out of business books swiftly. It’s called, “Actionable Books”. I found this summary after reading the book.
Finally, to today’s meditation. This morning I did a guided meditation that I quite enjoyed. I found myself almost falling back to sleep after a good night’s sleep but got up and was able to have a very productive day following this meditation.
Don’t get stuck because of the Upper Limit Problem and call upon me if you’d like to learn how it is that you can create all of the time in the world that you’ll ever need. Thanks for a great read, Gay Hendricks.
On Thursday evening this week, I received a phone call from a colleague of mine from my speaking association. Palmo Caripno was asking if I’d like to come in to do some juggling at the Cardel Theatre on Friday morning as Global TV was doing a piece on the local community, Quarry Park. Of course I was interested, so after re-scheduling a meeting I agreed to head down there.
I brought my friend and acrobatic yoga partner, Amanda to do some Acro Yoga as well. We jammed and they gave us a mic and asked us some questions. I did some juggling and we had some fun. Gil Tucker was reporting and doing his best to find my connection to the Cardel Theatre. We didn’t have to look far as I’m co-hosting a networking event there on November 3rd which he softly promoted. Join us at Get Connected YYC.
Below is the piece that they ended up creating for the news. Palmo continues to be a great supporter of mine as I grow into the professional speaking community here in Canada. The unexpected connection of meeting him through CAPS (the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers) has already led to some collaborations, some laughs and now a local television appearance.
These Unexpected Connections are good connections! You never know what they might lead to. Don’t let these connections slip past you in your life.
